Machine for folding collar-blanks, &amp;c.



N0. 694,844. l Patented Mar. 4. [902.

w. w. & w. DIXON.

MACHINE FOR FOLDING DOLLAR BLAI'IKS, 81.0.

(Application filed Feb. 14, 1901.) (No Model.) 7 Sheets-8hee I.

ma Nomus PETERS 00.. mom-urns. WASHWEYON. n. c.

Patented Mar. 4, I902.

W W. 8:. W. L. DIXON. MACHINE FQR FOLDING COLLAR BLANKS, 8w.

A nmtim filed Feb. 14, 1901.)

7 Shaets-Sheet 2.

(No Modal.)

Patented Mar. 4, I902.

W. W. &. W. L. [HXOI'L MACHINE FOR FDLDING COLLAR BLANKS,&.I:.

(Application filed Feb. 14, 1901.

7 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

No. 694,844. Patented Mar. 4, I902.

W. W. & W. L. DIXON.

MACHINE FOB FOLDING COLLAR BLANKS, 81.0. (Application flledrlgb. 14, 1901.) (llo Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 4.

m: NORRIS was 05.. P 0mumo.. w-sumstou. n. c.

Patented Mar. 4, I902.

W. W. & W. L. DIXON. MACHINE FDR FOLDING COLLAR BLANKS, 8mg.

(Application filed Feb. 14 1901.)

7 Sheets-Sheet 5.

(No Model.)

No. 694,844. Patented Mar. 4, I902.

W. W. & W. L. DlXUN. MACHINE FOR FOLDING DOLLAR BLANK S, &G.

A lication filed Feb. 14, 1901.

1 shegksmt a.

(No Mo deI.)

wzzrcesses:

1012M w. Zkx' any,

Pafented Mar. 4, 1902.

W. W. 8; W. L. DIXON. A MACHINE FOB FOLDING COLLAR BLANKS, 8m.

(Application filed Yb. 14; i901.)

' 7 Sheets-Sheet 7.

(No Modl.)

walk?- I .rzlrom THE mamas PETERS 00., PHOYO-U'L'HCL WASHINGTON m c.

as mounted at the extreme right end, in mesh with a worm b on a cross-shaft b provided with a loose pulley b 7 This machine belongs to that type of folding-machines in which theblank to be folded is held down by a die operated by a crosshead and while so maintained is folded by end folders or folding-blades and front and rear blades,the die being contractible for withdrawal from one or more of the folds, as may be desired, according to the order ofrfolding, which maybe employed, and, as'herein shown, the end folding-blades are operated by a cam c, splined on the shaft 1) adjacent itsopposite ends, and the side folding-blades are operated by'a cam d. The cross-head is raised and lowered by opposite cams e and is shifted by a cam 8, while preferably at the front of the machine is mounted a feeding apparatusf, operated by a cam f,

As the feeding mechanism constitutes an important part of the present invention, it may be well to describe it at this point in all its details. r

The blanks are laid for convenience on a table f shown as extending in front of the machineand preferably carried on the elbows f of arms f fixed at their lower ends on a shaft f journaled in brackets f depending rigidly from the bed-frame e At their upper and 'innerends the elbows or arms f carry pivoted supporting-fingers f7, which support at'their inner ends a feed-plate f which may be of any shape and arrangement desired, and

is preferably simply a boardprovided with the requiredflanges or other means forproperly placing and maintaining in position the blanks which are to be fed inthe machine. The supporting-fingers f are maintained in proper position by a roll f", which travels on a suitably-disposed guide-track f at the upperend' of a lifter or lifting-post f mounted in a socket f and provided at its, lower end with a roller f, resting on the free end f of a lever f pivoted at f" in a bracket f Thelever f is operated by a roll f, running in a'path f i n the cam f, being positively lifted and correspondingly lowered once in each rotation of the'cam,these movements taking place during the period of restof the cross, head, 'or at least while the cross-head is'up.

The arm f is operated by a rollfe traveling in a path f ofthe cam f which serves tojm ove the arm and feed-plate in and out for'feeding the-blanks into the machine and'removingfl them from the machine.

As already noted, various feeding devices.

havebeen suggested but the requirements of a machine of this character, which oper; ates on more or lessopen work fabric-such as linen, cotton, and other textile 'material are .of an exceedingly exacting and peculiar nature, so that it becomes necessary to, pro-'. Vide a feeding mechanism which shall operatev withabso'luteprecision, leaving'no possibility of any shifting or distortion of the blank from a anycause and not damaging the goods by cutting a thread or making holes, as in the case of pricking devices.

We have succeeded in producing a delicate, positive, and certain-feeding apparatus which meets the requirements specified, said apparatus employing pneumatic suction and being shown in detail in Figs. 5 to 8. Referring to said figures, it will be seenthat onthe back of the bed-frame is mou'nted a cylinder f by brackets or other suitable means f, in which operates a peculiar plunger f shown as a hollow elongated shell provided on one side with a long opening f and a short opening f and -on the opposite side with a medium openingf' arranged to register, respectively. with an exhaust-port f and outlet-ports f fthe air control being effected by a Iankorreservoir-f (see Fig.5) kept at any,predeterminetl state of vacuum, by a pump f hereinshown as located at the rear of the' machine and operated by an eccentric f arranged to be continuouslyoperated by the pulley bflthe pump, tank, and

valve being properly connected by pipes f From the port f a conducting-tube f leads tolthe' cross-head and is connected by. suitable branches to the die-plate e 7 the,

latter beingherein-shown as provided with four nipples f F, two adjacent eachend, so thatthesuction will be appliedsimultaneously adjacentthe four corners'of the blank as the latter is lifted by the feeding-plate f againstthe under side of the forming-die.

The port f is connected by a similar tube f to the feed-plate, which. has on its under side, adjacent its opposite end, depending sucker-tubes f arranged to contact with the folded blank on the folding-pad of the ma chine when the feeding-plate f is lowered, thereby instantly lifting the folded blank and carrying thesame out of the machine as the feeding mechanism is movedbackwardly by the cam f the blank beingdropped. atthe proper-moment onto a table a at the front of' the machine.' v

The operation of the valve is as follows: The plunger f has a pin f projecting through aislot f in the cylinder and engaged by the forked end f of a lever f, pivoted at f to a bracketf and carrying a rollf at itsfree end in the path of and to' be engaged by a cam-surface f", mounted on the faceof the cam-wheelf, as is clearly shown in Figs. 5.to 8, which moves the lever f in opposition to a spring f. r

The normal position of the parts isshown: in Figs. 6 to 8, andthe first movement, of the.

plungerf to the right serves to bring into action the port'f at which time the feeding- 'plate f has just reached its inner-most position and has been raised by the lifter f, so as to carry the blank against the under side of the raised forming-die, the result beingthat as the blank touches said die it is seized-and held accurately by the suction at its ends without thepossibility of shifting its position, and theblank having thus been delivered to the die'the feed-plate i s-instantly lowered by the lifter f and as the suction-tubes f thereof i touch the folded blank resting on the bed-pad the valve-plunger "f ismoved still farther te the right, Figs. 6 and 8, thereby bringing into action the port f whereupon the powerful suction thereof operates through the'tnbes or apertures' f toenga'ge? the "foldedblank,

whereupon the feed-plate 'is raised slightly and moved forward to the front bf the machine over the table (07, and at this point the spring f -is permitted-"to" retract the valve plunger f cutting olf -boththe ports f f and permitting the folded-blank to drop on thettable f and leaving on the folding-pad the blank'which has meanwhile been lowered into position by'the crOss-headanddie f f Thefeedingapparatu's thus far-described is capable of widevariati'on in'formand a'rrangement as long as the suction principle is car-' ried out, as above explained, the advantage thereof being that it retains the blank with a tenacity and certainty which mechanical means-such as springs, pins, pinching de- Vices, '&c. f'ai-l to exert. The suction device positively maintainsthe blank against the die in-cl'ose contact therewith, and as long as'the suction operates it is impossiblethat the blank woven material; I Instead of applying the'suction to lhedie, as showh, it may be applied to the bed for re taining the blank, and, if desired, the suction can change-its position This is'theresult.

which is essential to proper folding of collar and cutf'blanks and similar articles inade of of thedie maybe depended upon for raising the folded blank by-properl y; timing the valve *operati'on therefor.

Anys'uitable kind ofadie nay be employed. incur machine, thekindherein illustrated be ing-that shown and fully explained-in the application of George Reece; Serial No. 35,93

i filed November 9', 1900, comprising the corner description. p v y 7 I For convenien ce and simplicity of illustra employed for holding the blank down upon portions or blades (5 carried'by front and rear blade holders 6 e 9, mounted at the front side-of a slideblock or carrier e 'fl supported in -a carrier bar or-plate e ihthe blade-holder 2 being actuated by the engagement of a'ca in bar 6 with rolls e on the carrier bar or plate e ,'all substantially the same as "in said Reece application,

tion we have'shown the fornner or die as constitutingthe means for holding the blank in place; but it will be understood that either-a former or other independent means maybe the bed;

We" prefer to inountthediein a vertically-- movingcross head', andfor thi's'p'urpose'l provide a transverse beainef; provided at itsu nder" side with dovetailed grooves 6 iin'yvhi ch 1 the top otthe' plate 16 is slidin'gly mounted, i

said beam being "supported at its'ends' on shouldered rods e slidinglymounted in the frame of the machine and'provided witlr'li'fttherefore not requiring further ing-rolls c at their "lower ends, engaged by the path-cams e, already described.

It is of great importance, in this class of foldingthat the blank ShQlllfl bepressed with all the weight possible and should be capable of yielding for different thicknesses of work,

and accordingly yvehave provided springs operating to press the former forcibly'dowmward on the blank on'the bed or the machine; thepresent' machinebeing preferably so constructed that the entire'die, cross-head,'bea m',

and actuating parts will bring their cotnbined tary wheel or .plate e 'and atwtheir outer ends. I e to slides 'e niou'nted on the beam e and.

engaging rolls e projecting upwardly from the plate e f; thereby giving the desired contracting and expanding movements of the die. The rotaryplate e is journaled in the beam e and is also provided at its rear side with a pin e i'n engagement with aslide-bar c provided withcam-slots'el alt-its ends, in which operate pins gel, which extend upwardly from the tepof the plate e thrbugh slots 6 ft.

formed in rearward extensions'ofthe beam 6 in which the said tops of the carrier bar or plate e have adovet'ailed sliding .ena einent aslis clearl shown in Fi 1' so 8 O 3 i b 3 that as the bar 6 is moved lengthwise the .die

is correspondingly shifted forwardly orrearwardly, as the case may be. e The rotary plate e is actuated by a crank e fast on. the spindie of said 'plateand connected by a link 6 to aired 5 slidingly mounted in the slotted eud'e of a lever c i, pivoted in a bracket 5 on the enjd'of the machineand havinganoffiset arm 6 in engagement Witha path-cam e of the camef. Y

V The rods? is provided withcollarse which hold it in place relatiyely' to the slotted end e iof its aclnating-leverQ The cam-b ar e is reciprocated ina similar,

manner by at rodc carried in the slot-ted upper end 6?? of a similar lever 6 whose lateral. if

armp f wengages a path 6 of the cam. e.

Referringnowto the foldingniechanisrn and particularly. to Figs. 1, 4, 9, tfo'l5, itQwillv beseen thatwe have I herein illustrated the 7 machine as adapted for folding s'tan'dngp (101- I lars. As iswell understood in this art, the

great diffic'ulty in practically folding collar-l.

blanks by an automatic machine is that .the

great number of rnove ments'which are required' cannot be efiected quickly enough to fold over and crease the blanks before the latter have become dried, resting as they do. 1

' on a heatedbed; and the folding-blades;also

being usually more or less heatedlby their proximity tosaid bed Accordingly the pres" ent invention includes provision fors'irnnl- "taneousl'y folding three sides of the blank,

' providingthe camIc'wi-thafiangecfh'engaged d? toa lever -or'arin 01 supported onapiirot i side view orthefr nt blade, Fig.1 ntake in the fourth side also being preferably folded beforethe other folding-blades have been removed. As herein shown there is one front edge-folding blade d one rear edge-folding blade d and a compound blade 0 for each end, each of these blades excepting the back blade being of special construction. The end blade 0 comprises two parts 0 c pivoted together at c and mounted on a plate 0 the latter being provided with pins 0 cooperating with cam-slots c in the members 0 c for giving the latter a shear-like or pivotal movement as they are moved forwardby an arm 0 pivotediatci to an actu'ating-lever 0 operating ina path 0 of the Cam 0., The plateciis pivoted at 0 to a bed-block a, so that itmay riseand fall asreguired, in the; folding operatiOnsQb eing raised and lowered by a post lifted. by a link. c33 actuated by a bell-crank e f, provided at its opposite end with ears c and adjusting-screws 0 3, bearing. against a pressing leyer 0 actuatedby a path-cam 01 of theeam c. c The adjustment" ef thescrews 9 provides therequisite ,amount of, lost mot'ionjan'd' acljiist ability forfaccommodating the machine to. different thicknessesof cloth. The blockfctlis'hel'd,in'place iii the'bed of the machine by a series of bolts a? entering the grooves d therein, thisprovision' being of advantage; as it ipermits the ccurate adjustmentoffthe block; as by tightening or j lo'oseningce'rtairi'of thebolts L? "the bloclemay b'e'shifted'toon'e side or the other oi maybe' turned slightly one way or another to' aecoin 1 modatef'the variousrequirements of f olding. P 'Another' feature of importance resides in by'the, bifurcated end 0 6 afrigid lug'0 do. i pending from the under side ofthe blockc; thereby" insuring that when tustmer; is adjusted the cam cw ill necessarilybe"adjusted {simultaneously and to identically thefsame extent. Both the front and rear "folding- ;blades are lsimilarlyactuated, and" hence a description of the operating mechanism of ,one will answer for both. Each blade isi moved i'n'and outibya pai'rfo'f levers 01'', con- 'nee te d thereto at d an'd pivotcdat d to bracketS Cl? and operated byja roll d traveling in matu e re p t v y; -"t e earn a. and'is lifted bya presser rod dfl pivoted at 1.24: I a (I in brackets c1 and having an offset arm actuated by a path (1 011'. d"; respectively. This arrangement is not onlyextremely coin} iia'ct, butgi've's a balanced construction and great strengtlito'the in achiiiei ")As alradystated fthej front'and end blades ovie inwardl simiilt'aneously,' aim: accordingl'y'inordeiitopreyentthe.liabilityfofpinchpreferably finally ni'e etingedges of the midi bladesa'ii'd the'front'bladeY e provide a'u u-l ia'r'y'f olde'rs d f." tShOWnjclearIy in thennd'e'r s s t e w h. t e r sted awe views) These auxiliary folders (1 are arranged to slide in the main blade, being normally held outward by a spring (1 and being retained by a pin 61 operating in a slot d in the blade plate. These auxiliary folders normally project forward in contact with the end blades, as shown in Fig. 9, and as the end blades move toward each other they gradually push the folders c2 backward until the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 10, the ends of the folders c1 meanwhile performing id entically-the same office as the folding edge of the blade 613 by folding over the edge of the cloth at the gap between the two main blades. In other words, the auxiliary folders cooperate with the nainfolders in preservingaconw e ins ed f1-h l1$ 10 e tire l t 9 th co ar th e .pr xes nsia y p i Or i egu arity. in d pse It jwill b e 1 nd ersto odl that: the J auxiliary fbliQ F' il Lb' l edwilqdet e iii a .m'on in'g p art to suit the particular requirements of thevarious styles of collarslor other arth 1014s to be' folded ,and are .of' the same praett cal advantage, whether; the blades .move-siim e eo is d si 'i lm ept lm as whetherlor not, the 'f01deifs.,m oye simultane; ously; li'lh ii f ntt 1' ,en'd bla s. bar n i p d in r y a p fo g fl their fold n u iq i an the-11 v nahte t manly retracted atarestore pmgp of the blank in the manner-fully describedin the beforeiinenf tiOIJ e51, application, th r arbianed? i gnoy'ed forward and 'infolds' the'rear; edge, of the blankor, as shown, the top oftliecpllar, and in' making this'fold the rearin ne rg of the end folding-blades at'c perform the-tune;-

tion of the former or die, said' corner c ,%.be

ing cut away or, made thin 'to; hold or properly define'R-h'e'cornei' fold r ,the-collat l h e latter being infoldedat th'elcqrne'r on top of said thin portion (2 50f the end blade. I. The difficulties of'handl'i'ngtextile blanks have' already beenwalluded hojibu t are the peculiarities and unexpected. difficulties that are I continually. arising, es e'eian fm folding a plurality of thicknesses of linjenland cotton blanks, that it becomes ,neoe ssar yto have them-achine' finder special. control, and accordingly we have provided acgamlumplg on the peripheryofjthe earn '4 to enga s dog or arm g of a bell-crank, whichli s pivotedat g tothefree endgffofj knock-off lever, whose bifurcated end 9 engages a chuck g for connecting and disconnectiugthe driv the machine may be instantly started simply by momentarily depressing the foot-lever, this movement serving to turn the arm g out of engagement with the lump g, permitting the lever g to be pulled upwardly by a spring 9 thereby throwing the chuck into driving engagement. Also by the mechanism described the machine may be instantly stopped at any point simply by depressing the footlever and holding it depressed, as the arm g upon moving out of engagement with the lump g comes into contact with the inner lug g, and any further downward pull on the arm g7 serves positively to swing downwardly the lever 9 and thereby stop the machine.

, In order that the machine shall stop instantly when the cross-head has been raised to the position shown in Fig. 2, we provide a brake g, operated by the engagement of a pin g' with a yielding finger 9 said brake engaging a collar b on the shaft- U ,In the course of the detailed description thus far given the operation of the machine has been quite fully setforth, and it may therefore be briefly summarized.

The shaft 1) having been started by a momentary depression of the foot-lever g the feeding mechanism first comes into operation, the feed-plate being moved from the full-line position, Fig. l, to the full-lineposition, Fig. 5, and thereupon the lifter f raises the plate f and the blank carried thereby against the under side of the raised, die, andinsta-ntly the vacu um from the tank f 31 is brought into action, thereby causing the blank to be held firmly by suction against the under side of the die. This operation is accomplished instantaneously and immediately the feed-plate is lowered against the folding pad of the bed of the machine, and the suction apparatus is brought into operation upon the feed-plate, thereby caus'ingthe folded blank toadhere thereto, whereupon the feed-plate is raised and immediately moved outward. Meanwhile the oamse have lowered the cross-head into position, carrying the blank down with it, and the latter is firmly pressed on the receiving-pad by the die, and thereupon the exhaust apparatus iscut olf both from the die and fromthe feeding-plate, permitting the former to move freely in its various required operations without disturbing the blank and permitting the feeding-plate to drop or pinching of the fabric between the appreaching blades. The said folds having been made, the die is shifted by the combined action of the rotary plate a and the cam-bar e, actuated by'the bars e 6 cam e, and connected parts, and then the rear foldingblade is raised by its lifter d and moved in- Wardly by its levers d, allthe movements of both of the edge folding-blades beingefiected by the single cam cl, andall the movements of the end blades by the single cam c, and all the movements of the die by the single cam e. Then the cross-head again moves up, the rods 2 e sliding up freely in the slotted upper ends of their actuating-levers and the crosshead being lifted by the cams e, whereupon the described cycle of operations is repeated.

Besides the ad vantages already pointed out there are many other advantages of the present mechanism which will be readily understood hy those skilled in the art; but, as already noted, the leading advantages of the present invention reside, first, in providing accurate and instantlyoperating suctionfeed, thereby making it practical to feed the blanks automatically to the machine, and, second, in providing a compact-mechanism entirely without gears, the latter being not only expensive and liahle'to rapid deterioration,'but difficult to keep in proper adjustmentand accurate movement, requiring ondue power to operate them,becoming readily fouled, (Sac. Vv'e have not undertaken at this point to enumerate all the salient and advantageous features of our invention, and various of them will be pointed out in the following claims. It will also be understood that While we have herein shown the preferred em-t bodiment of our invention we are Well aware that very many changes and rearrangements of parts'may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of our inven tion, and likewise various features of our in-' ,vention may be employed advantageously together without others thereof-as, for example, while we have shown a machine for foldespecially for certain other forms of folding, some of the pal'ts as, for instance, the-pump ing apparatus and connections -will be otherwise located than as shown.

Having described our invention, what We claim, and desire to secu re by Letters Paten t,

1. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a receiving-bed to receive a blank to be folded, folding mechanism for in foldingsaid blank, and means for holding the blank, combined with pneumatic apparatus for receiving and retaining the blank in position to be held and operated upon hyihe aforesaid mechanism. l

2. In a machiuel'orfolding collars and the blank, and means for holding the blank, and pneumatic apparatus having connection with said former for retaining a blank against the under side of said former for properpositioning in the machine;

3. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a-receivi'ng-bed to receive a blank to be folded, folding mechanism for infold-ing said blank, means for holding the blank, said former having adjacent its opposite endssuction-places operative on the side of the former next to the receiving-bed for retaining ablank, an air-exhaust apparatus, connections therefrom to said suction-places, and operating mechanism therefor.

4. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a receiving-bed to receive a blank to be folded, folding mechanism for infolding the edges of said blank over flat down upon the body of the blank, means for holding the blank, and automatic feeding mechanism for removing a blank from the machine, said automatic mechanism including lifting means for directly grasping a blank lying on said bed and carryingsaid blank therefrom out of the machine.

5. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a receiving-bed to receive a blank to be folded, folding mechanism for infolding said blank, an automatic feeding mechanism for like, a bed, folding mechanism, means for holdingtheblank,an automaticfeedingmech- 7 In a machine for'folding collars and the like, a receiving-bed toreceive a blank to be folded, folding mechanism for infoldin'g said blank, .means for holding'the blank, and automatic feeding mechanism for carrying a blank into the machine, said feeding mechanism including means for delivering the blank directly to the machine, said machine having means for taking hold of the blankitself and holding it in position.

'8. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a bed, devices to fold ablank, automatic means to directly grasp the blank adjacent its opposite ends, carry it into the machine,

and deposit it'in position on said bed to be folded.

9. In a machine for folding blanks for collars and the like, a bed and a former to sus- I tain and hold a blankwhile being folded, and

automaticallyoperated means to enter between the bed and former, descend upon, directly grasp the folded blank, and feed it out from "between the 'bed and former.

10. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a bed, devices to fold a blank, means-to directly grasp a blank to be folded and carry it in suspended position down onto the bed to be folded, and means to directly engage'the folded blank and remove it from the machine,

11; In a machine for folding collars and the like, a receiving-bed to receive a blank to be folded, folding mechanism for infoldingsaid blank, means for holding the blank, feeding mechanism for carrying a blank into the machine, and pneumatic apparatus for receiving the blank from said feeding apparatus and retaining the same in positionin the machine for folding. p

12.' In a machine for folding collars and the like, a receiving-bed to'receive a blank to be folded, folding mechanism for infolding said blank, means for holding the blank,automatic mechanism movable in and out between the bed and said holding means for removing a blank from the machine, s'aid mechanism in cluding suction apparatus for taking a folded blank from said bed'and carrying it out of the machine.

13. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a receiving-bed to receive a blank to be folded, folding mechanism for infolding said blank, means for holding the blank, a feed-' ing mechanism for carrying a blank into the .machine, meansfor moving said apparatus adjacent the under side of said holding means, and pneumatic apparatus'operating at said holding means for receiving the blank from said feeding mechanism and retaining the same in place for folding. g

14. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a receiving-bed to receive a blank to be folded, folding mechanism forinfolding said" blank, means for holding the blank, feeding mechanism movable between said holding means and said bed, and means for shifting said feeding mechanism into engagement with said holding means for the transferof'a blank, and lowering the same onto said bed for the tr'ansferof another blank.

15. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a receiving-bed to receive a blank to be folded, folding mechanism for infolding said blank, means for'holding the blank, feeding mechanism movable between said holding means and said bed, and means for shifting said'feeding mechanism into engagement with said holding means for the transfer of a blank,

and'lowering the same onto said bed for the transfer of another blank, and pneumatie'apparatus operating on said holding means and also on said feeding mechanism for effecting said respective transfers.

16. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a receiving-bed to receive a blank to be folded, folding mechanism for'infol'ding said blank, means for holding the blank, feeding mechanism including pneumatic apparatus for removing a blank when folded, pneumatic apparatus for receiving and retaining a blank in position for folding, said apparatus including a vacuum-tank, a valve, and connections, said valve including a cylinder and a hollow plunger,both provided withproper ports leading respectively to said tank and to said retaining apparatus and said removing apparatus, and means for operating said valve, the port leading to said retaining apparatus coming into operation before the port leading to said removing apparatus, and remaining open while the latter operates.

17. A machine for folding collars and the like, comprising a bed, folding apparatus, means to hold a blank inplace for folding, an automatic feeding mechanism, said mechanism including an arm, means for moving said arm toward and from the machine, a feed" plate forcarrying the blank, and means for moving said feed-plate up and down as it is moved by said arm.

18. A machine like, comprising a bed, folding apparatus,

means to hold a blank in place for folding, an

automatic feeding mechanism, said mechanism including an arm, means for moving said arm toward and from the machine, a feedplate for carrying the blank,a lifter for moving said feed-plate up and down as it is moved by said arm, and means for operating said lifter. Y i i 19. A machine for folding collars and the like, comprising a bed, folding apparatus, means to hold a blank in place for folding, and automatic feeding mechanism,said mechanism including an arm, means for moving said arm toward and from the machine, a feedplate pivot-ally mounted on said arm, a lifter for swinging said feed-plate up and down as it is moved by said arm, and means for operating said iifter.

20. A machine for folding collars and the like, comprising a bed, folding apparatus, means to hold a blank in place for folding, automatic feeding mechanism for carrying a blank, said mechanism including means for retaining a blank while being carried, mechanism for moving said retaining means into and out of the machine, and a guide-track on which said retaining means travels.

21. A machine for folding collars and the like, comprising a bed, folding apparatus, means to hold a blank in placefor folding, automatic feeding mechanism, said mechanism including means for retaining a blank while being carried, mechanism for moving said retaining means into and out of the machine, a lifting-post mounted in a socket, on the machine, a guide-track carried by'said. post on which said retaining means travels, and means for raising and lowering said post in said socket. i

22. A machine forfolding collars and the like, comprising a bed, folding apparatus,

machine.

for folding collars and the means to hold a blank in place for folding, and automatic feeding mechanism including arms pivoted to the front of the machine, a table mounted on said arms obliquely to the horizontal, for supporting a pile of blanks to be fed into the machine, and means operated by said arms for feeding said blanks into the 23. A machine for folding collars and the like, comprising a bed, folding apparatus, means to hold a supporting device for carrying blanks into the machine, automatic means for operating the same, pneumatic mechanism for receiving the blank when carried into the machine, and pneumatic means for taking a folded blank from the machine, said latter pneumatic means holding the blank until the blank has been removed from the machine, and then releasing the blank. i

24. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a bed to receive a blank,folding mechanism for infolding the edges of the blank, a vformer for defining the blank,

a cross-head carrying said former, actuating means for moving said cross-head and former toward and from the bed, automatic feeding mechanism for feeding a blank into the machine when the former is in raised position, and pneumatic apparatus for taking the blank from said feeding mechanism, said pneumatic apparatus including operating means for maintainingtheflsame in action until saidac- ,tuating mechanism has lowered the former upon the bed of the machine. I 7

25. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a receiving-bed, folding mechanism, a former, pneumatic apparatus for engaging a blank, said pneumatic apparatus including a pn mp and means for operating the'pum p, and stopping mechanism for stopping the former and folding mechanism, the operating means of the pump continuing in operation independently of said stopping mechanism.

26. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a bed to receive a blank, automatic folding mechanism for infolding the edges of the blank, a former for defining the shape of the blank'being folded, a cross-head carrying said former, an tom atic mechanism for moving said" cross-head and former toward and from the blank in place for folding, a

IIO

bed, automaticstopping mechanism for stopping the machine when the former isin raised position, and means under the control of the operator for rendering said automatic stopf ping mechanism operative or inoperative at will.

27. In a machine for folding collars and the i like, a bed to receive a blank, folding mech anism for infolding the edgesof the blank, a

former for defining the blank, a cross-head carrying said former, actuating means for moving said cross-head and former. toward and from the bed, automatic feeding n echanism for feeding a blank into the machine when the former is in raised position, automatic stopping mechanism for stopping the machine when the former is in raised position, thereby enabling the operator to place blanks properly on the feeding mechanism, and manual stopping mechanism for stopping the machine at any point in its operation.

28. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a bed to receive a blank, folding mechanism for infolding the edges of a blank, a former for defining the blank, a cross-head carrying said former, actuating means for moving said crosshead and former toward and from the bed, automatic feeding mechanism for feeding a blank when the former is in raised position, automatic stopping mechanism for stopping the machine when the former is in raised position, and manual stopping mechanism for stopping the machine at any point in its operation.

29. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a bed to receive a blank, folding mechanism for infolding the edges of the blank, a former for defining the blank, a cross-head carrying said former, actuating means for moving said cross-head and former toward and from the bed, said folding mechanism and cross-headactuating means normally'operating continuously and automatically, and manual stopping mechanism for stopping the machine at any point in its operation.

30. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a bed to receive a blank, folding mechanism for infolding the edges of the blank, a former for defining the blank, and means for yieldingly pressing said former on the blank on said bed, When the former is resting thereon.

31. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a bed to receive a blank, folding mechanism for infolding the edges of the blank, a former for defining the blank, a cross-head carrying said former, movable means supporting said cross-head for raising and lowering the latter, the cross-head being loosely mounted on said supporting means, and springs carried by said supporting means in engagement ivithsaid cross-head for permitting the latter to yield under pressure Whereby the Weight of the former, cross-head, connected mechanism, and the resistance of said springs are all brought to bear upon the blank on the bed of the machine.

32. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a bed to receive a blank, folding mechanism for infolding the edges of the blank, a former for defining the blank, a cross-head carrying said former, rods vertically movable in the machine for supporting and actuating said cross-head, horizontally-operating rods mounted in the cross-head for actuating said former,1evers for shifting said horizontal rods, the latter and said levers having loose, vertically-slidingconnection permittingthe proper movements of each Without interfering with the vertical movement of the cross-head.

v v 33. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a bedto receive a blank, folding mechanism for infolding the edges of the blank, a

former for defining the blank, a cross-head carryingsaid former, said cross-head having transverse slideways on its under side, and said former-having connection with said slide- Ways for front and back shifting movement in the machine, and shifting means therefor.

34. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a bed to receive a blank, folding mechanism for infolding the edges of the blank, a former for defining the blank, a cross-head carrying said former, the latter being capable of shifting backward and forward relatively to said cross-head, a rotary plate mounted in the cross-head, a slide-bar provided with camslots cooperating with the cross -head and former for shifting said former, a pin project-- ing fromsaid rotary plate into loose connection with said slide-bar for reciprocating the latter, a horizontally-moving member for rotating said plate, and means for operating said member.

35. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a bed to receive a blank, folding mechanism for infolding the edges of the blank, a former for defining the blank, a cross-head carrying said former,slides on said cross-head, a rotary plate mounted in the cross-head,links connecting said plate and said slides, said slides being connected with contractible portions of the former,a rod mounted in the crosshead for longitudinal movement, a link connecting said rod and said rotary plate, and means for operating said rod.

36. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a frame, a bed carried thereby, a former, an edge-folding mechanism for infolding the edges of a blank, a single main shaft mounted in said frame, rotative members and levers for raising and lowering said former and operating said folding mechanism, all of said rotative members being mounted on said single shaft.

37. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a frame, a bed carried thereby, a former, means for raising and lowering said former relatively to said bed, end and edge folding mechanism for infolding the edges of a blank, a single main shaft mounted in said frame, levers for operating each of said end-folding mechanisms, levers for operating said edgefolding mechanism, cams mounted on said main shaft, all of said levers being directly connected to the folding mechanism at one end and at their other ends being in engagement With said cams, whereby all the folding movements of the machine are accomplished by the rotation of one shaft and the cams secured thereon, reciprocating rods for operating said former, levers pivotally mounted for reciprocating said rods, and a cam mounted on said main shaft in engagement with said levers for operating the latter.

88. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a frame, a bed carried thereby, folding mechanism on said bed for infolding a blank, a former, a cross-head carrying said former, supporting means for lifting and lowering said cross-head, a single main shaft mounted in said frame, said shaft always rotating in one and the same direction, cams mounted on said shaft for operating said folding mechanism, cams also mounted on said shaft for operating said cross-head -supporting means, other cams also on said shaft for operating said former, and pivotal connections between and for operating said folding mechanism from said cams, and other pivotal connections between and for operating said former from its said cams.

.39. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a frame, abed thereon, means for holding a blank on said bed, and end and edge folders forinfolding the edges of said blank, a pivoted lever for lifting and depressing each of said folders, a pivoted lever for movingin and out each of said folders, a mainshaft jour-- naled in said frame, and cams fast on said shaft, each of said levers having engagement with certain of said cams whereby all the said movements of all of said folders are effected by said cams from said single shaft and are transmitted by said pivoted levers.

40. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a frame, a bed thereon to receive blanks to be folded, and an end folder for folding a portion of said blank, said end folder being adj ustably mounted for movement longitudinally of said bed, a main shaft journaled in the machine, a cam a-djustably mounted on said shaft, transmitting devices between said cam and said folder for actuating the latter by the former, and rigid connection between said folder and said cam for preventing longitudinal movement of one relatively to the other, and maintaining corresponding movement in both when either is adjusted.

41. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a frame, a bed thereon to receive blanks to be folded, and an end folder for folding a portion of said blank, said end folder being adjustably mounted for movement longitudinally of said bed, a main shaft journaled in the machine, a cam adjustably mounted on said shaft, transmitting devices between said cam and said folder for actuating the latter by the former, and a rigid leg connected to said folder and having at its lower end interlocking engagement with said cam for preventing dissimultaneous adjustment of said folder and cam. 1

42. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a bed and bed-frame to receive a blank to be folded, an end folder for folding said blank, said end folder including a block rigidly mounted in the bed-frame of the machine, a plate pivotally mounted on said block, movable means on said plate for doing infolding, means for lifting and depressing said plate, and mechanism for shifting said folding means in and out.

43. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a bed and bed-frameto receive ablank to be folded, said bed-frame having a recess or opening, a folder said folder including a block slightly smaller than the recess in said bed-frame, said block being mounted in said recess or opening of the bed-frame, and a pinrality of adjusting devices in said bed-frame at the opposite sides of said block and engaging the latter for adjusting the block as may be required.

44. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a bed to receive a blank to be folded, means for holding the blank in position, and a folder, said folder comprising a plate, a blade mounted thereon and made up of two members pivoted together andmounted to slide longitudinally on said plate,coiiperating pin and cam-slot devices in said plate and in said two blade members for automatically swinging said members on their pivot, as they are moved forward and backward on said plate. f j

45. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a bed to receive a blank to be folded,

two folders for infolding said blank, means for moving said folders inwardly along converging lines, said folders being separated by an intervening gap when in retracted or nonfolding position, and said gap being'gradually lessened in extent as the folders move inwardly, combined with yielding means adjacent the folding edges of said folders for closing said gap and adapted to move inwardly as one or both of said folders are moved inwardly for infolding the portion of the blank between the two folders.

46. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a bed to receive a blank to be folded, a plurality of folders for infolding the edges of said blank, said folders moving toward the blank out of parallelism, and means for main taining a substantially continuous folding edge throughout said plurality of folders.

47. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a bed to receive a blank to be folded,

- a plurality of folders for infolding the edges of said blank, said folders moving toward the blankout of parallelism, and auxiliary folders for automatically closing the gaps be* IIO tween said folders and maintaininga sub stantially continuous folding edge.

48. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a bed to receive a blank to be folded, two folders, means to move said folders inwardly along converging lines, and an aux iliary folder longitudinally movable of one of said folders and projecting adjacent the edge thereof against the adjacent edge of the other folder, and means permitting the retraction of said auxiliary folder as and by the inward movement of said other folder.

49. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a bed to receive a blank to be folded, a

folder for infolding an edge of the blank, an auxiliary folder slidingly mounted in said folder and projecting therefrom in substan tialalinement with the edge thereof, a spring normally maintaining said auxiliary folder projected, and means for moving the same inwardly in performing the folding operation. I

opposite end folders, and an intermediate side edge-folder for folding respectively the two ends and intermediate longitudinal edge of the blank, mechanism for simultaneously moving inwardly said three folders for making a continuousfolded edge on three sides of the blank, said three folders being in separated position before their inward movement and means for automatically preventing the material between said folders from being pinched or deformed by the latter as the said folders move simultaneously inwardly.

51. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a bed to receive a blank to be folded, a folder movable over said bed, a presser device secured to said folder, a cam mounted beneath said bed, a lever pivoted to the under side of said bed and connected to said presser device, said lever having an arm operated by said cam, a second lever connected at one end to said folder for moving the same horizontally, and at its other end engaged by said cam.

52. In a machine for folding collars and the like, a bed to receive a'blank to be folded, opposite edge-folders, a cam journaled in the machine beneath said bed, a presser device secured to each of said folders and passing be-- ,presser devices and bed and passing in opposite directions about said cam to beactuated thereby, and other levers respectively pivoted at the front and rear sides of the machine and connected at their upper ends to said respective folders, and at their lower ends engaged by said cam for shifting the said folders for folding.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

WILLIAM W. DIXON.

WALTER L. DIXON.

Witnesses:

GEO. I-I. MAXWELL, GEORGE E. BIGELOW. 

